Sony HVR-Z5E

farss wrote on 9/14/2008, 7:05 AM

It certainly seems to have a lot of goodies under the hood as well as some advances in the optics department.
I have some concerns about how well matte boxes can be fitted to this and many other cameras. I wish camera designers would factor this into their designs. Also seems to use the latest designed to fail in an instant mic holder. At least you get two cold shoes so easy enough to add a 3rd party mic holder.

I think you'd be pretty happy with this camera. I can't see any real negatives from the available specs. Usability is a big factor that only you can judge. This isn't cheap kit and factor in cost of an extra battery or two, maybe a charger and maybe a VCR so you're not using the camera as one and the cost mounts up. Before parting with your hard earned I'd suggest renting one for a day to see how it works with your style and if you feel comfortable with where the controls are, small things can become major annoyances.

Bob.

Grazie wrote on 9/14/2008, 10:39 AM

It certainly seems to have a lot of goodies under the hood as well as some advances in the optics department.

Yes. Over cranking 4x for slomo .. woooah!!

I have some concerns about how well matte boxes can be fitted to this and many other cameras.

Yes, I've already asked the question/s of SONY!

I think you'd be pretty happy with this camera. I can't see any real negatives from the available specs.

Yes, my thoughts too.

Usability is a big factor that only you can judge.

Should be at our IoV Expo next month?

This isn't cheap kit and factor in cost of an extra battery or two, maybe a charger and maybe a VCR so you're not using the camera as one and the cost mounts up.

Oh yes . . . I'd wanna see my LANC and sop on working with it. But as this IS solid state as well, wouldn't I just ingest the files? Or have I got this all to cock too?

Before parting with your hard earned I'd suggest renting one for a day to see how it works with your style and if you feel comfortable with where the controls are, small things can become major annoyances.

Eh - Bob? This IS "Grazie"? Mr Picky!! And yes of course. Would YOU buy them for your rental biz?

Thanks Bob for taking the time to feedback.

I getting the idea that I may have made the correct move and held out a wee bit longer for this particular "Bus" to come along. Now, depending on price . . . ????

I think the accessory war chest might well have swelled as this might be the price differential in NOT buying the Z7. Buying the Z7 allowing for interchangeables, which might, as I understand, cost as much as the camera!

Grazie

UlfLaursen wrote on 9/14/2008, 10:59 AM

Hi Grazie

Did you look at the videos on sony HDV site?

http://www.sony.dk/biz/view/ShowContent.action?site=biz_en_DK&contentId=1219910884442&parentFlexibleHub=1166605185474

Looks like they have some kind of matte box attached in the first intro video.

I would like the CF-card recorder mentioned together with the cam too:

http://www.sony.dk/biz/view/ShowProduct.action?product=HVR-MRC1K&site=biz_en_DK&pageType=Overview&imageType=Main&category=HDVVTRs

Saw somewhere it would cost aprox. $900 - looks nice for existing cams too - wander if it will go with both sony and Canon HDV cams...

/Ulf

Grazie wrote on 9/14/2008, 11:48 AM

"Did you look at the videos on sony HDV site?"

Yes Ulf! At least 3 times a day!! - I guess I should've posted them here too.

It does look like a sweet camera. The old PD170 was 1 lux, the Z1 was 3 lux and Z5 is 1.5 lux. http://www.sony.co.uk/biz/view/ShowContent.action?articlesection=2&site=biz_en_GB&contentId=1220875360755See Kevin Cook's straightforward compo of the Z1 and the Z5.[/link]

OOOooo.....

Grazie

FrigidNDEditing wrote on 9/15/2008, 2:27 PM

I see Vegas in one of their videos showing it going to an editing platform.

Video 3/6 19 seconds in :)

Dave

John_Cline wrote on 9/16/2008, 1:18 AM

I've read that Sony is bundling Vegas with their new HDR-FX1000 and HVR-Z5 camcorers.

Grazie wrote on 9/16/2008, 1:30 AM

Oh well then, I think I'll buy 2 cameras then! That's save a licence?

"Hey, I got VegasPro8! And it comes with 3 NDs and an Exposure ring too!"

Is this the first time "hardware" has been married to Vegas?

I suppose I could always "sell" this copy legitimately and look on it as a "discount"?

Thinking of it like this, it would be quite useful - hmmm...

Would I need to register on- or offline to make the camera function? Would I get the MPEG licence as part of it? Prolly be greyed out - huh?

Thanks John!

Grazie

ScorpioProd wrote on 9/16/2008, 2:49 AM

Not the first time. A year ago there was a six month promotion where buying a XDCAM HD camcorder got you a free XDCAM HD computer drive and a free Vegas Pro 8. It was a full boxed version.

L8R wrote on 9/16/2008, 7:17 PM

Wow nice little camera there. I notice though it's listed in Denmark.

Any news of it coming to Canada or USA anytime soon?

It didn't dawn on me when he said it shot in 1080 50i, I was like that's strange.
I clued in after I saw it was in Denmark.

Tom Pauncz wrote on 9/16/2008, 7:27 PM

Absolutely! I am in Toronto and I have already had the Z5(U) in my hand.
Tom

tonyatl wrote on 9/16/2008, 7:51 PM

What do they expect the price point to be?

Tom Pauncz wrote on 9/16/2008, 8:05 PM

Since it's the replacement for the Z1(U/E), I'd expect about the same.
Tom

monoparadox wrote on 9/16/2008, 8:08 PM

"With the HVR-Z5U camcorder, professionals will appreciate its native 24P recording and other professional features—all for less than $5,000—as well as tapeless recording capability through an optional CompactFlash™ adapter."

http://news.sel.sony.com/en/press_room/consumer/digital_imaging/camcorders/high_definition/release/37215.html

farss wrote on 9/16/2008, 8:44 PM

I'd take all low light figures for all HD cameras with a bit of scepticism. Not that they're not accurate, assuming they state the S/N ratio and all. Just that noise seems more obvious in HD than SD. Plus you do seem to loose image quality through the class of lens you get on these cameras (inc the EX1) with the iris fully open.

Or to put it another way. It's easily noticeable how much the image quality improves when you add more light.

Edit:

I just noticed you didn't mention the best thing about this camera. They've significantly increased the res of the LCD. To me that's the killer feature on the EX1. You flip out the LCD and what you see is very seductive, it screams "Go shoot something".

Bob.

L8R wrote on 9/17/2008, 11:38 AM

Hey Tom, was it at a show or was the camera at a store? I'm thinking vistek would probobably get that in.
I'm from the hamilton area. I only have two FX1 cameras and an HC1. I've never actually used the Z1U.
This camera looks like it's smaller. Is it smaller then the FX1?

Tom Pauncz wrote on 9/17/2008, 3:07 PM

Hi L8R,
Actually, it was at Vistek that I saw it. I was picking up some supplies and placing an order, when the Marketing Manager, Acquisition Systems came in with a bunch of goodies to show off.

The Z5U, a new bag from Sony for those size cams, an iLink remote controller, and a bayonet mount wide angle lens with built-in matte box - for the S270, Z7 and the Z5, as far as I understand it.

The same gear that was announced and shown at IBC. Camera looks to be the same size as the Z1, though I didn't put them side-by-side.

HTH,
Tom